第14章

"Oh，"saidMrs。Corey，inatoneofrelief，asifthestatementthrewanewlightonthefactthatCoreyhadsuggestedthevisit。"HesaidsolittleaboutitinhisletterthatIdidn’tknowjusthowitcameabout。"

"Ithoughtitwasrighttheyshouldmeet，"explainedtheson，"andsodidfather。IwasgladthatIsuggestedit，afterward；itwasextremelygratifyingtoColonelLapham。"

"Oh，itwasquiterightineveryway。Isupposeyouhaveseensomethingofthefamilyduringthesummer。"

"Yes，agooddeal。I’vebeendownatNantasketratheroften。"

Mrs。Coreylethereyesdroop。Thensheasked："Aretheywell？"

"Yes，exceptLaphamhimself，nowandthen。Iwentdownonceortwicetoseehim。Hehasn’tgivenhimselfanyvacationthissummer；hehassuchapassionforhisbusinessthatI

fancyhefindsithardbeingawayfromitatanytime，andhe’smadehisnewhouseanexcuseforstaying"

"Ohyes，hishouse！Isittobesomethingfine？"

"Yes；it’sabeautifulhouse。Seymourisdoingit。"

"Then，ofcourse，itwillbeveryhandsome。Isupposetheyoungladiesareverymuchtakenupwithit；

andMrs。Lapham。"

"Mrs。Lapham，yes。Idon’tthinktheyoungladiescaresomuchaboutit。"

"Itmustbeforthem。Aren’ttheyambitious？"

askedMrs。Corey，delicatelyfeelingherway。

Hersonthoughtawhile。Thenheansweredwithasmile——

"No，Idon’treallythinktheyare。Theyareunambitious，Ishouldsay。"Mrs。Coreypermittedherselfalongbreath。

Buthersonadded，"It’stheparentswhoareambitiousforthem，"andherrespirationbecameshorteragain。

"Yes，"shesaid。

"They’reverysimple，nicegirls，"pursuedCorey。

"Ithinkyou’llliketheelder，whenyoucometoknowher。"

Whenyoucometoknowher。Thewordsimpliedanexpectationthatthetwofamiliesweretobebetteracquainted。

"Thensheismoreintellectualthanhersister？"

Mrs。Coreyventured。

"Intellectual？"repeatedherson。"No；thatisn’ttheword，quite。Thoughshecertainlyhasmoremind。"

"Theyoungerseemedverysensible。"

"Oh，sensible，yes。Andaspracticalasshe’spretty。

Shecandoallsortsofthings，andlikestobedoingthem。

Don’tyouthinkshe’sanextraordinarybeauty？"

"Yes——yes，sheis，"saidMrs。Corey，atsomecost。

"She’sgood，too，"saidCorey，"andperfectlyinnocentandtransparent。Ithinkyouwilllikeherthebetterthemoreyouknowher。"

"Ithoughtherverynicefromthebeginning，"saidthemotherheroically；andthennatureasserteditselfinher。

"ButIshouldbeafraidthatshemightperhapsbealittlebittiresomeatlast；herrangeofideasseemedsoextremelylimited。"

"Yes，that’swhatIwasafraidof。But，asamatteroffact，sheisn’t。Sheinterestsyoubyherverylimitations。

Youcanseetheworkingofhermind，likethatofachild。

Sheisn’tatallconsciousevenofherbeauty。"

"Idon’tbelieveyoungmencantellwhethergirlsareconsciousornot，"saidMrs。Corey。"ButIamnotsayingtheMissLaphamsarenot————"Hersonsatmusing，withaninattentivesmileonhisface。"Whatisit？"

"Oh！nothing。IwasthinkingofMissLaphamandsomethingshewassaying。She’sverydroll，youknow。"

"Theeldersister？Yes，youtoldmethat。Canyouseetheworkingsofhermindtoo？"

"No；she’severythingthat’sunexpected。"Coreyfellintoanotherreverie，andsmiledagain；buthedidnotoffertoexplainwhatamusedhim，andhismotherwouldnotask。

"Idon’tknowwhattomakeofhisadmiringthegirlsofrankly，"shesaidafterwardtoherhusband。

"Thatcouldn’tcomenaturallytillafterhehadspokentoher，andIfeelsurethathehasn’tyet。"

"Youwomenhaven’trisenyet——it’sanevidenceofthebackwardnessofyoursex——toaconceptionoftheBismarckideaindiplomacy。Ifamanpraisesonewoman，youstillthinkhe’sinlovewithanother。DoyoumeanthatbecauseTomdidn’tpraisetheeldersistersomuch，heHASspokentoHER？"

Mrs。Coreyrefusedtheconsequence，sayingthatitdidnotfollow。"Besides，hedidpraiseher。"

"Yououghttobegladthatmattersareinsuchgoodshape，then。Atanyrate，youcandoabsolutelynothing。"

"Oh！Iknowit，"sighedMrs。Corey。"IwishTomwouldbealittleopenerwithme。"

"He’sasopenasit’sinthenatureofanAmerican—bornsontobewithhisparents。Idaresayifyou’daskedhimplumplywhathemeantinregardtotheyounglady，hewouldhavetoldyou——ifheknew。"

"Why，don’tyouthinkhedoesknow，Bromfield？"

"I’mnotatallsurehedoes。Youwomenthinkthatbecauseayoungmandanglesafteragirl，orgirls，he’sattachedtothem。Itdoesn’tatallfollow。

Hedanglesbecausehemust，anddoesn’tknowwhattodowithhistime，andbecausetheyseemtolikeit。

IdaresaythatTomhasdangledagooddealinthisinstancebecausetherewasnobodyelseintown。"

"Doyoureallythinkso？"

"Ithrowoutthesuggestion。Anditstrikesmethatayoungladycouldn’tdobetterthanstayinornearBostonduringthesummer。Mostoftheyoungmenarehere，keptbybusinessthroughtheweek，witheveningsavailableonlyonthespot，orafewmilesoff。Whatwastheproportionofthesexesattheseashoreandthemountains？"

"Oh，twentygirlsatleastforevenanexcuseofaman。

It’sshameful。"

"Yousee，Iamrightinonepartofmytheory。

Whyshouldn’tIberightintherest？"

"Iwishyouwere。AndyetIcan’tsaythatIdo。

Thosethingsareveryseriouswithgirls。Ishouldn’tlikeTomtohavebeengoingtoseethosepeopleifhemeantnothingbyit。"

"Andyouwouldn’tlikeitifhedid。Youaredifficult，mydear。"Herhusbandpulledanopennewspapertowardhimfromthetable。

"Ifeelthatitwouldn’tbeatalllikehimtodoso，"

saidMrs。Corey，goingontoentangleherselfinherwords，aswomenoftendowhentheirideasareperfectlyclear。

"Don’tgotoreading，please，Bromfield！IamreallyworriedaboutthismatterImustknowhowmuchitmeans。

Ican’tletitgoonso。Idon’tseehowyoucanresteasywithoutknowing。"

"Idon’tintheleastknowwhat’sgoingtobecomeofmewhenIdie；andyetIsleepwell，"repliedBromfieldCorey，puttinghisnewspaperaside。

"Ah！butthisisaverydifferentthing。"

"Somuchmoreserious？Well，whatcanyoudo？Wehadthisoutwhenyouwerehereinthesummer，andyouagreedwithmethenthatwecoulddonothing。Thesituationhasn’tchangedatall。"

"Yes，ithas；ithascontinuedthesame，"saidMrs。Corey，againexpressingthefactbyacontradictioninterms。

"IthinkImustaskTomoutright。"

"Youknowyoucan’tdothat，mydear。"

"Thenwhydoesn’thetellus？"

"Ah，that’swhatHEcan’tdo，ifhe’smakinglovetoMissIrene——that’shername，Ibelieve——ontheAmericanplan。

HewilltellusafterhehastoldHER。ThatwasthewayIdid。

Don’tignoreourownyouth，Anna。Itwasalongwhileago，I’lladmit。"

"Itwasverydifferent，"saidMrs。Corey，alittleshaken。

"Idon’tseehow。IdaresayMammaLaphamknowswhetherTomisinlovewithherdaughterornot；andnodoubtPapaLaphamknowsitatsecondhand。Butweshallnotknowituntilthegirlherselfdoes。Dependuponthat。

Yourmotherknew，andshetoldyourfather；butmypoorfatherknewnothingaboutittillwewereengaged；andI

hadbeenhangingabout——dangling，asyoucallit————"

"No，no；YOUcalleditthat。"

"WasitI？——forayearormore。"

Thewifecouldnotrefusetobealittleconsoledbytheimageofheryounglovewhichthewordsconjuredup，howeverlittleshelikeditsrelationtoherson’sinterestinIreneLapham。Shesmiledpensively。"Thenyouthinkithasn’tcometoanunderstandingwiththemyet？"

"Anunderstanding？Oh，probably。"

"Anexplanation，then？"

"Theonlylogicalinferencefromwhatwe’vebeensayingisthatithasn’t。ButIdon’taskyoutoacceptitonthataccount。MayIreadnow，mydear？"

"Yes，youmayreadnow，"saidMrs。Corey，withoneofthosesighswhichperhapsexpressafemininesenseoftheunsatisfactorinessofhusbandsingeneral，ratherthanapersonaldiscontentwithherown。

"Thankyou，mydear；thenIthinkI’llsmoketoo，"

saidBromfieldCorey，lightingacigar。

Shelefthiminpeace，andshemadenofurtherattemptuponherson’sconfidence。Butshewasnotinactiveforthatreason。Shedidnot，ofcourse，admittoherself，andfarlesstoothers，themotivewithwhichshewenttopayanearlyvisittotheLaphams，whohadnowcomeupfromNantaskettoNankeenSquare。Shesaidtoherdaughtersthatshehadalwaysbeenalittleashamedofusingheracquaintancewiththemtogetmoneyforhercharity，andthenseemingtodropit。Besides，itseemedtoherthatsheoughtsomehowtorecognisethebusinessrelationthatTomhadformedwiththefather；theymustnotthinkthathisfamilydisapprovedofwhathehaddone。

"Yes，businessisbusiness，"saidNanny，withalaugh。

"Doyouwishustogowithyouagain？"

"No；Iwillgoalonethistime，"repliedthemotherwithdignity。

HercoupenowfounditswaytoNankeenSquarewithoutdifficulty，andshesentupacard，whichMrs。LaphamreceivedinthepresenceofherdaughterPenelope。

"IpresumeI’vegottoseeher，"shegasped。

"Well，don’tlooksoguilty，mother，"jokedthegirl；

"youhaven’tbeendoinganythingsoVERYwrong。"

"ItseemsasifIHAD。Idon’tknowwhat’scomeoverme。

Iwasn’tafraidofthewomanbefore，butnowIdon’tseemtofeelasifIcouldlookherintheface。He’sbeencominghereofhisownaccord，andIfoughtagainsthiscominglongenough，goodnessknows。Ididn’twanthimtocome。

Andasfarforthasthatgoes，we’reasrespectableastheyare；andyourfather’sgottwicetheirmoney，anyday。We’venoneedtogobeggingfortheirfavour。

Iguesstheyweregladenoughtogethiminwithyourfather。"

"Yes，thoseareallgoodpoints，mother，"saidthegirl；

"andifyoukeepsayingthemover，andcountahundredeverytimebeforeyouspeak，Iguessyou’llworrythrough。"

Mrs。Laphamhadbeenfussingdistractedlywithherhairandribbons，inpreparationforherencounterwithMrs。Corey。

Shenowdrewinalongquiveringbreath，staredatherdaughterwithoutseeingher，andhurrieddownstairs。

ItwastruethatwhenshemetMrs。Coreybeforeshehadnotbeenawedbyher；butsincethenshehadlearnedatleastherownignoranceoftheworld，andshehadtalkedoverthethingsshehadmisconceivedandthethingsshehadshrewdlyguessedsomuchthatshecouldnotmeetherontheformerfootingofequality。Inspiteofasbraveaspiritandasgoodaconscienceaswomanneedhave，Mrs。Laphamcringedinwardly，andtremulouslywonderedwhathervisitorhadcomefor。Sheturnedfrompaletored，andwashardlycoherentinhergreetings；

shedidnotknowhowtheygottowhereMrs。Coreywassayingexactlytherightthingsaboutherson’sinterestandsatisfactioninhisnewbusiness，andkeepinghereyesfixedonMrs。Lapham’s，readingheruneasinessthere，andmakingherfeel，inspiteofherindignantinnocence，thatshehadtakenabaseadvantageofherinherabsencetogethersonawayfromherandmarryhimtoIrene。

Then，presently，whilethiswaspainfullyrevolvingitselfinMrs。Lapham’smind，shewasawareofMrs。Corey’saskingifshewasnottohavethepleasureofseeingMissIrene。

"No；she’sout，justnow，"saidMrs。Lapham。"Idon’tknowjustwhenshe’llbein。Shewenttogetabook。"

Andheresheturnedredagain，knowingthatIrenehadgonetogetthebookbecauseitwasonethatCoreyhadspokenof。

"Oh！I’msorry，"saidMrs。Corey。"Ihadhopedtoseeher。

Andyourotherdaughter，whomInevermet？"

"Penelope？"askedMrs。Lapham，easedalittle。"Sheisathome。Iwillgoandcallher。"TheLaphamshadnotyetthoughtofspendingtheirsuperfluityonservantswhocouldberungfor；theykepttwogirlsandamantolookafterthefurnace，astheyhadforthelasttenyears。

IfMrs。Laphamhadrungintheparlour，hersecondgirlwouldhavegonetothestreetdoortoseewhowasthere。

ShewentupstairsforPenelopeherself，andthegirl，aftersomerebelliousderision，returnedwithher。

Mrs。Coreytookaccountofher，asPenelopewithdrewtotheothersideoftheroomaftertheirintroduction，andsatdown，indolentlysubmissiveonthesurfacetotheteststobeapplied，andfollowingMrs。Corey’sleadoftheconversationinherodddrawl。

"Youyoungladieswillbegladtobegettingintoyournewhouse，"shesaidpolitely。

"Idon’tknow，"saidPenelope。"We’resousedtothisone。"

Mrs。Coreylookedalittlebaffled，butshesaidsympathetically，"Ofcourse，youwillbesorrytoleaveyouroldhome。"

Mrs。Laphamcouldnothelpputtinginonbehalfofherdaughters："Iguessifitwaslefttothegirlstosay，weshouldn’tleaveitatall。"

"Oh，indeed！"saidMrs。Corey；"aretheysomuchattached？

ButIcanquiteunderstandit。Mychildrenwouldbeheart—brokentooifweweretoleavetheoldplace。"

SheturnedtoPenelope。"Butyoumustthinkofthelovelynewhouse，andthebeautifulposition。"

"Yes，Isupposeweshallgetusedtothemtoo，"

saidPenelope，inresponsetothisdidacticconsolation。

"Oh，Icouldevenimagineyourgettingveryfondofthem，"

pursuedMrs。Coreypatronisingly。"Mysonhastoldmeofthelovelyoutlookyou’retohaveoverthewater。

Hethinksyouhavesuchabeautifulhouse。Ibelievehehadthepleasureofmeetingyoualltherewhenhefirstcamehome。"

"Yes，Ithinkhewasourfirstvisitor。"

"Heisagreatadmirerofyourhouse，"saidMrs。Corey，keepinghereyesverysharply，howeverpolitely，onPenelope’sface，asiftosurprisetherethesecretofanyothergreatadmirationofherson’sthatmighthelplesslyshowitself。

"Yes，"saidthegirl，"he’sbeenthereseveraltimeswithfather；andhewouldn’tbeallowedtooverlookanyofitsgoodpoints。"

Hermothertookalittlemorecouragefromherdaughter’stranquillity。

"Thegirlsmakesuchfunoftheirfather’sexcitementabouthisbuilding，andthewayhetalksitintoeverybody。"

"Oh，indeed！"saidMrs。Corey，withcivilmisunderstandingandinquiry。

Penelopeflushed，andhermotherwenton："Itellhimhe’smoreofachildaboutitthananyofthem。"

"Youngpeopleareveryphilosophicalnowadays，"

remarkedMrs。Corey。

"Yes，indeed，"saidMrs。Lapham。"Itellthemthey’vealwayshadeverything，sothatnothing’sasurprisetothem。

Itwasdifferentwithusinouryoungdays。"

"Yes，"saidMrs。Corey，withoutassenting。

"ImeantheColonelandmyself，"explainedMrs。Lapham。

"Ohyes——yes！"saidMrs。Corey。

"I’msure，"theformerwenton，ratherhelplessly，"wehadtoworkhardenoughforeverythingwegot。

Andsoweappreciatedit。"

"Somanythingswerenotdoneforyoungpeoplethen，"

saidMrs。Corey，notrecognisingtheearly—hardshipsstandpointofMrs。Lapham。"ButIdon’tknowthattheyarealwaysthebetterforitnow，"sheaddedvaguely，butwiththesatisfactionweallfeelinutteringajustcommonplace。

"It’sratherhardlivinguptoblessingsthatyou’vealwayshad，"saidPenelope。

"Yes，"repliedMrs。Coreydistractedly，andcomingbacktoherslowlyfromthevirtuousdistancetowhichshehadabsentedherself。Shelookedatthegirlsearchinglyagain，asiftodeterminewhetherthiswereatouchofthedrollinghersonhadspokenof。Butsheonlyadded：

"YouwillenjoythesunsetsontheBackBaysomuch。"

"Well，notunlessthey’renewones，"saidPenelope。

"Idon’tbelieveIcouldpromisetoenjoyanysunsetsthatIwasusedto，agreatdeal。"

Mrs。Coreylookedatherwithmisgiving，hardeningintodislike。"No，"shebreathedvaguely。"MysonspokeofthefineeffectofthelightsaboutthehotelfromyourcottageatNantasket，"shesaidtoMrs。Lapham。

"Yes，they’resplendid！"exclaimedthatlady。"Iguessthegirlswentdowneverynightwithhimtoseethemfromtherocks。"

"Yes，"saidMrs。Corey，alittledryly；andshepermittedherselftoadd："Hespokeofthoserocks。Isupposebothyouyoungladiesspendagreatdealofyourtimeonthemwhenyou’rethere。AtNahantmychildrenwereconstantlyonthem。"

"Irenelikestherocks，"saidPenelope。"Idon’tcaremuchaboutthem，——especiallyatnight。"

"Oh，indeed！Isupposeyoufinditquiteaswelllookingatthelightscomfortablyfromtheveranda。"

"No；youcan’tseethemfromthehouse。"

"Oh，"saidMrs。Corey。Afteraperceptiblepause，sheturnedtoMrs。Lapham。"Idon’tknowwhatmysonwouldhavedoneforabreathofseaairthissummer，ifyouhadnotallowedhimtocometoNantasket。

Hewasn’twillingtoleavehisbusinesslongenoughtogoanywhereelse。"

"Yes，he’sabornbusinessman，"respondedMrs。Laphamenthusiastically。"Ifit’sborninyou，it’sboundtocomeout。

That’swhattheColonelisalwayssayingaboutMr。Corey。

Hesaysit’sborninhimtobeabusinessman，andhecan’thelpit。"SherecurredtoCoreygladlybecauseshefeltthatshehadnotsaidenoughofhimwhenhismotherfirstspokeofhisconnectionwiththebusiness。

"Idon’tbelieve，"shewentonexcitedly，"thatColonelLaphamhaseverhadanybodywithhimthathethoughtmoreof。"

"Youhaveallbeenverykindtomyson，"saidMrs。Coreyinacknowledgment，andstifflybowingalittle，"andwefeelgreatlyindebtedtoyou。Verymuchso。"AtthesegratefulexpressionsMrs。Laphamreddenedoncemore，andmurmuredthatithadbeenverypleasanttothem，shewassure。Sheglancedatherdaughterforsupport，butPenelopewaslookingatMrs。Corey，whodoubtlesssawherfromthecornerofhereyes，thoughshewentonspeakingtohermother。

"IwassorrytohearfromhimthatMr。——Colonel？——Laphamhadnotbeenquitewellthissummer。Ihopehe’sbetternow？"

"Ohyes，indeed，"repliedMrs。Lapham；"he’sallrightnow。

He’shardlyeverbeensick，andhedon’tknowhowtotakecareofhimself。That’sall。Wedon’tanyofus；

we’reallsowell。"

"Healthisagreatblessing，"sighedMrs。Corey。

"Yes，soitis。Howisyouroldestdaughter？"

inquiredMrs。Lapham。"Issheasdelicateasever？"

"Sheseemstoberatherbettersincewereturned。"AndnowMrs。Corey，asifforcedtothepoint，saidbunglinglythattheyoungladieshadwishedtocomewithher，buthadbeendetained。ShebasedherstatementuponNanny’ssarcasticdemand；and，perhapsseeingittopplealittle，sherosehastily，togetawayfromitsfall。

"Butweshallhopeforsome——someotheroccasion，"

shesaidvaguely，andsheputonapartingsmile，andshookhandswithMrs。LaphamandPenelope，andthen，aftersomelingeringcommonplaces，gotherselfoutofthehouse。

Penelopeandhermotherwerestilllookingateachother，andtryingtograpplewiththeeffectorpurportofthevisit，whenIreneburstinuponthemfromtheoutside。

"Omamma！wasn’tthatMrs。Corey’scarriagejustdroveaway？"

Penelopeansweredwithherlaugh。"Yes！You’vejustmissedthemostdelightfulcall，’Rene。Soeasyandpleasanteveryway。Notabitstiff！Mrs。Coreywassofriendly！

Shedidn’tmakeonefeelatallasifshe’dboughtme，andthoughtshe’dgiventoomuch；andmotherheldupherheadasifshewereallwoolandayardwide，andshewouldjustliketohaveanybodydenyit。"

Inafewtouchesofmimicryshedashedoffasketchofthescene：hermother’strepidation，andMrs。Corey’swell—bredreposeandpolitescrutinyofthemboth。

Sheendedbyshowinghowsheherselfhadsathuddledupinadarkcorner，mutewithfear。

"Ifshecametomakeussayanddothewrongthing，shemusthavegoneawayhappy；andit’sapityyouweren’theretohelp，Irene。Idon’tknowthatIaimedtomakeabadimpression，butIguessIsucceeded——evenbeyondmydeserts。"Shelaughed；thensuddenlysheflashedoutinfierceearnest。"IfImisseddoinganythingthatcouldmakemeashatefultoherasshemadeherselftome————"

Shecheckedherself，andbegantolaugh。Herlaughbroke，andthetearsstartedintohereyes；sheranoutoftheroom，andupthestairs。

"What——whatdoesitmean？"askedIreneinadaze。

Mrs。LaphamwasstillinthechillytorportowhichMrs。Corey’scallhadreducedher。Penelope’svehemencedidnotrouseher。Sheonlyshookherheadabsently，andsaid，"Idon’tknow。"

"WhyshouldPencarewhatimpressionshemade？Ididn’tsupposeitwouldmakeanydifferencetoherwhetherMrs。Coreylikedherornot。"

"Ididn’t，either。ButIcouldseethatshewasjustasnervousasshecouldbe，everyminuteofthetime。

Iguessshedidn’tlikeMrs。Coreyanytoowellfromthestart，andshecouldn’tseemtoactlikeherself。"

"Tellmeaboutit，mamma，"saidIrene，droppingintoachair。

Mrs。Coreydescribedtheinterviewtoherhusbandonherreturnhome。"Well，andwhatareyourinferences？"

heasked。

"Theywereextremelyembarrassedandexcited——thatis，themother。Idon’twishtodoherinjustice，butshecertainlybehavedconsciously。"

"Youmadeherfeelso，Idaresay，Anna。Icanimaginehowterribleyoumusthavebeeninthecharacterofanaccusingspirit，toolady—liketosayanything。

Whatdidyouhint？"

"Ihintednothing，"saidMrs。Corey，descendingtotheweaknessofdefendingherself。"ButIsawquiteenoughtoconvincemethatthegirlisinlovewithTom，andthemotherknowsit。"

"Thatwasveryunsatisfactory。IsupposedyouwenttofindoutwhetherTomwasinlovewiththegirl。

Wassheasprettyasever？"

"Ididn’tseeher；shewasnotathome；Isawhersister。"

"Idon’tknowthatIfollowyouquite，Anna。Butnomatter。

Whatwasthesisterlike？"

"Athoroughlydisagreeableyoungwoman。"

"Whatdidshedo？"

"Nothing。She’sfartooslyforthat。Butthatwastheimpression。"

"Thenyoudidn’tfindhersoamusingasTomdoes？"

"Ifoundherpert。There’snootherwordforit。

Shesaysthingstopuzzleyouandputyouout。"

"Ah，thatwasworsethanpert，Anna；thatwascriminal。

Well，letusthankheaventheyoungeroneissopretty。"

Mrs。Coreydidnotreplydirectly。"Bromfield，"shesaid，afteramomentoftroubledsilence，"Ihavebeenthinkingoveryourplan，andIdon’tseewhyitisn’ttherightthing。"

"Whatismyplan？"inquiredBromfieldCorey。

"Adinner。"